State of Illinois

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Financial Impact of Charter Schools on Illinois School Districts: a Primer and Three Case Studies

This report explains the laws and funding mechanisms applicable to charter schools in Illinois and investigates how Illinois charter schools affect the finances of their host school districts. It includes three in-depth case studies of…

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State of Illinois FY2008 Recommended Operating Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation opposes the massive expansion of health care and long-term borrowing proposed in the FY2008 State budget recommendation, but offers qualified support for sale/lease of the State lottery and for reasonable revenue…

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State of Illinois Employee Health Insurance Plans: Analysis and Recommendations for Cost Containment

This report reviews the features and costs of the current State of Illinois employee group health insurance program, examines the fiscal impact of the program on the State operating budget, and makes policy recommendations for containing…

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Strengthening the Financial Accountability of Illinois School Districts: A Report of the Education Reform Committee of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus

This report compares Illinois school districts' financial management and accountability standards with nationwide best practices, and makes policy recommendations regarding steps Illinois should take to ensure greater financial…

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Dedicated Revenue Sources for State Pension Funds: A Civic Federation Issue Brief

This issue brief describes dedicated revenue sources for state pension funds and recent proposals for dedicated revenue sources in Illinois. It then discusses important features of an effective dedicated pension revenue source.

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State of Illinois Retirement Systems: Funding History and Reform Proposals -- A Civic Federation Issue Brief

This issue brief reviews the five retirement systems of the State of Illinois and discusses their current condition, the history of funding shortfalls and benefit enhancements, various attempts to improve the financial health of the…

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State of Illinois FY2007 Recommended Capital Budget: An Overview

This report is a summary of Governor Blagojevich's proposed $9.95 billion FY2007 State of Illinois Capital Budget.

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Senate Bill 2691: Alternative General Homestead Exemption Extension

The Civic Federation supports the extension of the "7%" property tax cap for an additional three years, but does not support raising the EAV exemption maximum from $20,000 to $60,000.

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State of Illinois Pension Systems: Analysis and Recommendations (Excerpted from The Civic Federation's State of Illinois FY2007 Recommended Operating Budget: Analysis and Recommendations)

The Civic Federation opposes the State of Illinois Recommended FY2007 operating budget because it takes a partial pension holiday of $1.1 billion at the same time as it increases spending for recurring programs by $1 billion.

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State of Illinois FY2007 Recommended Operating Budget: Analysis and Recommendations

The Civic Federation opposes the State of Illinois Recommended FY2007 operating budget because it takes a partial pension holiday of $1.1 billion at the same time as it increases spending for recurring programs by $1 billion.